Newcastle steel themselves for Parker challenge

Last updated at 08:15 07 June 2005

Newcastle could face competition for Scott Parker's signature from one Merseyside rival after seeing off the challenge of another.

The Magpies entered the weekend believing that they were leading the race to capture unsettled Chelsea midfielder after Everton baulked at matching his pay packet at Stamford Bridge, but emerged from it to learn of suggestions that European champions Liverpool could be ready to fight it out for the player's signature.

Rafael Benitez is considering his midfield options with former Magpie Dietmar Hamann hopeful of winning a new contract and Middlesbrough's out-of-contract Dutchman Bolo Zenden having held talks with the Reds, and although he has a wealth of midfield talent led by much-pursued skipper Steven Gerrard, the rigours of another European campaign will test the depth of his squad.

Newcastle counterpart Graeme Souness has returned from his summer break and he and chairman Freddy Shepherd are now ready to start their rebuilding work, and with the deadline for season ticket renewals due next Monday, they will be desperate to make a major statement about the club's future direction.

Newcastle remain confident of landing Parker, who is available for around £6million, some £4million less than Chelsea paid Charlton for his services in January last year, and if they are successful, there will be repercussions for members of the existing squad.

Ins and outs

Souness insisted last week amid speculation that England international Jermaine Jenas could be sacrificed in a bid to raise a bigger transfer kitty that the player was going nowhere, while he only recruited Amdy Faye during the January transfer window.

Nicky Butt suffered a disappointing first season on Tyneside and speculation was rife after he failed to acknowledge the Toon Army after the 4-1 FA Cup semi-final defeat by former club Manchester United that he could be sold, but he has told friends he intends to stay and fight for his place.

Hugo Viana and Laurent Robert will be sold, provided that potential buyers - Benfica and Porto have overtaken Sporting Lisbon in the race for the Portuguese international - meet Newcastle's valuations, while Lee Bowyer has been linked with Charlton, West Ham and Bolton in recent days.

Souness denies FA charge

Meanwhile, Souness has denied an FA charge of bringing the game into disrepute after launching a furious attack on referee Barry Knight.

The 52-year-old Scot had until today to respond to the allegation of "a breach of FA Rule E3 for a failure to act in the best interests of the game and/or having brought the game into disrepute" after his side's 2-0 Premiership defeat at Everton on Saturday, May 7.

However, Souness has not requested a personal hearing and disciplinary chiefs will now consider the case based on documentary evidence within the next few weeks.

"Newcastle United manager Graeme Souness has denied a charge of failing to act in the best interests of the game and/or bringing the game into disrepute (breach of FA Rule E3)," said an FA spokesman. "He has not requested a personal hearing.

"The charge related to post-match media comments following Newcastle United's Premier League match against Everton on May 7, 2005."

Souness spoke out after seeing the official, who had earlier in the season sent off Steven Taylor, Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer in a controversial encounter with Aston Villa at St James' Park, dismiss striker Shola Ameobi for lashing out at midfielder Tim Cahill.

'We feel hard done by again because of Mr Knight'

However, his criticism at Goodison Park was based more on the award of a free-kick which led to Everton's opening goal.

"The referee was apologising to some of our lads before the game for the penalty he gave in that Aston Villa match," Souness said during his post-match press conference. "It was outside the box and he said that.

"That was the game when we had three players sent off out of extreme frustration. But Mr Knight escaped without any criticism that day and this time, he has given a free-kick to Everton that wasn't and it changed the game.

"There were other decisions he got wrong. We feel hard done by again because of Mr Knight. I won't defend Ameobi for what he did and when he was sent off, the game was over, but (Jean-Alain) Boumsong says it wasn't a foul on (Marcus) Bent when they scored their first."